Dr Richard Woolley

Dr Richard Woolley believes passionately in the role of education in helping individuals to realise their potential, to access opportunities for learning and to foster a sense of self-confidence and self-worth. He has been engaged in addressing issues relating to diversity, inclusion and social justice in education for thirty years, exploring the relationship between values education and contemporary social issues. He has worked in Higher Education since 2003, initially in initial teacher education, then as Head of Centre for Education Inclusion (2011 - 2017) and now as a Deputy Head of the School of Education at the University of Worcester. The focus of Richards teaching, scholarship and research is diversity and equality, inclusion and social justice in education. Richard's commitment to working collaboratively with both students and colleagues roots his teaching in real-life contexts and aids its application to professional practice. Impact of work He is constantly learning from those around him, as he explores ideas about inclusion and valuing difference that often present challenges to those working in educational settings. As Head of Centre for Education and Inclusion he built a cohesive and highly engaged staff team, reconceptualising and clarifying a shared understanding of the nature of inclusion. This was underpinned by the desire to inspire students to reach their full potential through excellent, innovative teaching, scholarship and research; to reaffirm a commitment to inclusive values and to equality and diversity; and to provide a working environment in which people are included and respected.       Involving both students and colleagues in his project work provides Richard with an enrichment opportunity, personal professional development, as well as the capacity to use his materials and learning within university courses. Through this he models best practice, tests his findings, and learns from the questions and issues raised by both his students and peers, engaging his students in the role of critical friends. Plans for the future His work on Family Diversities and on Relationships Education is particularly distinctive, providing support for student teachers, and those already employed in schools, to value backgrounds of those in their care. Richard is also leading an EU-funded project to develop learning and teaching support for university students with diverse needs.